- Author: Chris M. Webb
California’s oak trees are facing another challenge to their survival. The gold-spotted oak borer (GSOB) was identified in California in 2006; since that time, over 17,000 oaks have died from this pest.
The loss of oak trees, especially in the wild, brings many negative impacts: loss of wildlife habitat, greater risk of erosion and catastrophic fire, invasion of noxious weeds, as well as safety risks related to falling trees or branches.
The borer attacks the trunks and branches of mature oaks. While most pests attack trees that are stressed or weakened, the GSOB attacks large, healthy trees – including trees in yards. Thus far the damage has been contained to San Diego County.
Much work is being conducted in an effort to learn more about the GSOB. With more knowledge, researchers hope to be able to stop the destruction of these magnificent trees. At this time, all we can do is work together to slow the spread of the GSOB with the following steps:
- Do not transport oak firewood into or out of campgrounds or parks
- Chip infested oak wood to 1-inch pieces
- Cover stored oak firewood with 6 mm, UV-stabilized, durable plastic tarps in the spring. Secure all the edges of the tarp to the ground to prevent beetles from escaping
- Season oak firewood. Remove the bark and place the wood in direct sunlight
Pictures of the borer, the damage caused, and more information can be found here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The Santa Barbara/Ventura County USDA Farm Service Agency would like to remind ranchers and livestock produces of some upcoming deadlines for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP).
The “LFP provides payments to eligible livestock producers that have suffered livestock grazing losses due to qualifying drought or fire. For losses due to drought, qualifying drought ratings are determined using the U.S. Drought Monitor located at http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html.Eligible livestock under LFP include beef cattle, alpacas, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, poultry, reindeer, sheep and swine. Fire losses apply only to federally managed rangeland.”
The deadline for losses incurred during calendar year 2008 is December 10, 2009. For losses incurred during the 2009 calendar year, the deadline to apply for benefits is January 30, 2010.
Additional details can be found by contacting our office, or by contacting Breda Farias at brenda.farias@ca.usda.gov or daisy.lopez@ca.usda.gov.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment. When these plants are put in gardens they often spread quickly via seeds or plant fragments that produce new plants. This is especially a problem for people living close to open areas. Once the invasive species enter open areas their populations often explode, taking up precious natural and financial resources.
Invasive species crowd out native vegetation wiping out native plants and destroying the ecological habit of wildlife. Their unbalanced growth can clog up waterways and lead to increased flooding. They often become serious fire hazards. Both flooding and fires are examples of the financial resource expense caused by these species.
So how do you know if you have an invasive plant on or around your property? One of the most popular handouts in the Ventura County UCCE office is the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) brochure, Don’t plant a pest!. This full color brochure provides background information, photos of common invasive species, and provides examples of substitution that are friendlier to our local ecosystems. All this and much more, including instructions on safely removing invasive plants, can be found on Cal-IPC’s website.
More information about invasive species in our area can be found by checking out UCCE San Diego Carl E. Bell's webpage . He is UC's Regional Advisor - Invasive Plants, serving San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. Mr. Bell was a collaborator on the Don't plant a pest! brochure. Additional publications can be found on his site.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Ventura County UCCE shares hard-working Natural Resources Advisor, Sabrina Drill with Los Angeles County. She has many projects to which she devotes much time . One of them is SAFE (Sustainable And Fire-SafE) Landscapes. This program has Sabrina working and collaborating with a wide base of people and groups throughout our state.
From this collaboration an enormous wealth of knowledge is available at http://groups.ucanr.org/SAFE/index.cfm, or by clicking on the Fire Information button on our home page. At the site you will find many ways to help reduce the possibility of fire damage or destruction to your home and much more.
Many of the suggestions offer other positive outcomes. One such example is using native plants. These plants are not only resistant to fire, but they also take less water, and grow slower. By planting these species around your home, you are reducing the threat of fire, saving water, and time spent on yard maintenance. Suggestions on steps to take throughout the year are broken down by season, helping to reduce the where, what and when panic that often accompanies large projects around the home.
Wildfires are always a danger in Southern California, and anytime is a good time to get started educating yourself and your family on steps to take to minimize the threat of damage and increase safety. Our website is a great place to start.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Dr. Sabrina Drill, our cross-county (LA & Ventura) Natural Resources Advisor has developed guidelines for creating and maintaining fire-safe, environmentally-friendly landscapes in the wildland-urban interface that minimize the use and spread of invasive plants.
The information available on the UCCE Los Angeles County website has the potential to reduce the chances your home will be damaged or destroyed by wildfire. By clicking on the “CLICK HERE to get a copy of the 2009 Ventura County SAFE Landscapes Calendar and Guidebook.” You will find great tips and practical measures to implement around your home that are parsed into small tasks to tackle on a monthly basis. Further links for additional information are available at the bottom of the page.
The Ventura County UCCE office has some copies left of the 2009 fire safe landscaping calendars if you would like a hard copy version. While the year is almost over, the calendar was designed to remove the part that will soon be outdated leaving the great suggestions and tips behind for future reference. Please contact our office if you would like a copy.